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Home My WebLink About520003 0007,5 • by w , u 4 d a cip0,4014).3 °Aeljea6 . 4,4r' E a. I Y f ni f� � S' � j BOWIE .OSPITAL HISTORY Weld County citizens have been increasingly health conscious. A recurring demand for better hospital facilities for care of the sick in Weld County came to a head in a constructive meeting at he Greeley Chamber of Commerce in mid- August, 1942. In the representative committee were assembled Drs. Atkinson, Dyde, Madler, Mead, Ringle, Weaver, Widney, and prominent business men and public spirited taxpayers, County Com- missioner Warren, and college president George Frasier. They called in the writer hereof. This group decided that a start had to be made ; they had just as well launch the project, and settled upon resolute action to build the ship. The county had a hospital, first as a contagious disease and poor house built in 1902. Commissioners got legis- lation to allow incidental service to pay patients in 1915 , and enlarged it. Some patients disputed the county's legal right to collect for their care. The next step was to get a large meeting of the membership of the Chamber and all interested citizens on Monday, August 27, 1942 . There the need for hospital facilities on a standard suit- able to all Weld County was urged by several speakers. The newspaper gave it publicity. The sentiment was unanimous that the existing hospi- tal should be a creditable one, to serve pay patients, its conduct made up-to-date in bringing nursing and medical practices to high standard, accrediting sought, and, further, that a modern, larger hospital facility was needed for Weld County's forward looking people and growing hospital demands. The nucleus committee set out to enlist others. The Board of County Commissioners then Fred Ford, (later his successor, Wm. Hanson) , Noble Sanden (who died January 23 , 1948 ) , and Harley Warren, were receptive. The county hospital needed reorganization. It had been removed from the American College of Surgeons accredited list. More beds were needed, more room for laboratories. The writer's advice was to go to the next legislature for a basic act to enable a long range program of community hospi- tal building and control by a continuing board of trustees, non-official and non-medical, of overlap- tug terms, appointed by the County Commission- ers. They requested me to do so as my contribution of service. The writer, in the next months, with the aid of County Attorney Robert G. Smith and County Commissioners, drafted and followed the bill through the legislature. Weld County Senators and Representatives sponsored it. It passed, as Chapter 110, 1943 Sessions Laws. Petitions circulated by civic organizations in 1943 were signed by more than 1 ,000 taxpayers. They asked the board of County Commissioners to act to provide for the establishment of a public hospital and to appoint a seven-man board of trustees of five-year overlapping terms and to turn over to it control of the Weld County Hospital at 16th Street and 11th Avenue. The Commissioners were co-operative in the object sought. The details took time. The Board of County Commissioners appointed the firs Board of Trustees for Weld County Hos- pital on March 31 , 1944. They were J. M. Col- lins of Eaton, George F. Kern of Windsor, Frank B. Davis, William R. Kelly, L. P. McArthur, and Luke R. Storey, of Greeley, and James A. Stewart of La Salle. The members drew lots for the "stag- gered" 1 , 2, 3 , 4, and 5 year terms. They elected Frank B. Davis, President, William R. Kelly, Vice-President, and Luke R. Storey, Secretary. This board, by Commissioners' re-appointments, has continued to the present, except that Luke R. Storey, experienced finance committee chairman, died March 4, 1949 . Albert C. Clough was ap- pointed to succeed him. Frank B. Davis, still ac- tive on the Board committees, died December 6 , 1951 . Ray Rucker was appointed his successor. These two men who died in the harness had given unflagging and invaluable service. Frank B. Davis continued as President to his resignation in July, 1949, when Kelly succeeded as President to January, 1951 , since which time James A. Stewart has been President, Albert C. Clough, Vice-President, and Kelly, Secretary. L. P. MacArthur has been chairman of the building committee throughout. No member of the Board receives any compen- sation. The newly created Board of Trustees took over the duties seriously. They visited other hospitals, near and far, asked advice, studied administration and standards. They brought nurses' and employees' pay up to current scales, divided interim functions among committees. They have devoted much time, met often, and given close supervision to hospital control and betterment. They set out vigorously to learn ; and did establish, such rules and regula- tions and procedures for patient care and medical and nursing conduct as would conform to Ameri- can College of Surgeons standards for becoming accredited as a Class "A" hospital. They set up strict medical staff and medical records requirements They obtained such provisional accrediting in early 1946. Complete accreditation followed in another year. By steps, they have added adjunct facilities of a resident pathologist, resident x-ray specialist, and resident anaesthesia specialist, and improved surgery, laboratory, oxygen, and infant care fa- cilities. A house for nurses' home was bought and remodeled. Superintendent at first was Mabel Knowlton. John A. Lindner, a trained administrator, succeeded her, from July, 1 945 , until November, 1946, since which time Henry H. Hill has continuously been the administrator. While new building plans and construction have proceeded, the Board has continued to con- duct care of the sick in the existing hospital. The reorganized hospital in 1951 treated 9,468 persons, in 33 , 672 patient days. Of these, new- born infants and their mothers were 8 , 127 patient days. Births in the hospital in 1952 were 1 , 140. There was not a single death of a mother in child- birth. In fact, the total deaths in our hospital in 1951 was less than in 1941 when there were only five-sevenths as many in-patients, and only 95 births in the hospital, and when the average pa- tient stay was 8 days, compared to 5 .9 days stay in 1951 . The new hospital will make possible longer patient stay. The existing hospital has required 150 em- ployees--about 1 . 6 employees per patient. A hos- pital has to care for its patients 24 hours per day and 365 days per year. New patient care procedures of laboratories, x-ray, oxygen, blood transfusions, laboratories and adjunct facilities, make more em- ployees required for treatment of the sick. It has required $ 1 , 500 cash each day to give this nursing care to the patients. Demand for hospital care exceeded the 100-bed capacity of the 11 th Avenue building. The pres- ent building, enlarged by the County Commissioners in 1925 , was not favorable for further enlarge- ment. The Trustees obtained a hospital survey by Dr. Ben Black, of Alameda, California, nationally recognized expert . A 300-bed hospital was recommended as needed. The County Commissioners, prior to appoint- ing a Hospital Board, had employed Doctors Walsh and Remy, noted hospital consultants, of Chicago, to survey hospital need and set-up for Weld Coun- ty. They advised 315 beds. Taxpayers petitioned the County Commission- ers to submit at the 1944 election a bond issue and one mill levy to furnish foundation funds for a new hospital. The bond issue of $420,000, carried. The vote was 4, 226 for, 1 ,367 against Weld County's first bond issue. For the new building, the County Commission- ers began, in 1944 and continued to 1951 , mill levies annually to create a building fund. They have helped since with excavating and in many • ways. April 24, 1945 , Architects Fisher and Fisher, of Denver, and Sidney G. Frazier, of Greeley, were employed to draw plans for a 250-bed hospital. Engineers and consultants were engaged to advise. A 21 -acre site out of the Green farm at the west edge of Greeley on 16th Street between 16th and 21st Avenues was bought March 8, 1946. Four acres of it, later, were given to the city for streets. Material and labor got high with the war. Plans were redrawn to adapt. The one million dollar cost at first envisioned kept rising. The Board added to the plans in early 1948 the large southeast, or Public-Health, wing to house the large Weld County Public Health Department. To build at these costs caused hesitation by the Trustees. Demand to proceed continued insistent, due to insufficient beds in the old hospital. The Board yielded, called for bids in August, 1947, and let the contract for excavation and basements to Brown-Schrepferman, September 29, 1947. The first shovel of earth was turned with a simple ceremony on October 13 , 1947. A year of tosu rises ensued. Adaquate health facilities now, rather than many years later, outweighed delay over prices. The contract for the reinforced con- crete framework for the building was let to News- trom Davis on June 9, 1949 an important de- cision. The contract for the walls and completed building was let to Olson Construction Company on July 5 , 1950. The plumbing and heating was let to Johnson and Davis and the elevators to Montgomery Elevator Company. Completion has taken longer than expected. Material difficulties, war, and strikes are some ex- planation. Federal funds for hospitals were made available and sought in 1947. cost $ 900,000 made alloca ion to the total building, March, 1949 . Construction is practically accomplished—ten years after setting out on the project. The people of Weld County now have the modern and more adequate hospital facilities. But, in care of The skill the physical structure is only a place. and services of doctors, nurses, attendants, house- keepers, dieticians, engineers, who the owork and the there, are the ministers for the healing claim creditable end alleviation of suffering. We results in nursing care and a body of devoted nurses and a staff of fifty-six medical men of rofe lion. high training, dedicated to the healing p The new and hospital 5 i� bassinet capacity. ye are moving has 220 Preventive medicine and health t it c care ill also be served from this building, Department, which is out- County Public Health standing. The building is of brick, steel reinforced con- crete, much glass, metal panels, and fireproof con- struction. The most modern scientific 1Pandi facdiagnostic i gn are and therapy laboratories, fitting installed throughout. Cost of building and grounds approximates $3 , 000, 000. Furnishings are $350,000 more. We need nor speak of inflated costs. Citizens, to date, have subscribed gifts of up- wards og S130.000 to the furnishings and equip- ment costs,. The Hospital has been built on a "pay-as-you- go" plan of financing. When we move in, except for less than ten per cent, a balance of bonds, the cost moneys will either have all been paid, or arc on hand. Two annual one mill levies will meet i . Trustees for Weld County Public Hospital have been "doers of the word." The inscription on the corner stone dedicated September 27, 1950, at the east wall of the main entry, reads : "ERECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF WELD COUNTY. " William R. Kelly November 1 , 1952 BOARD OF TRUSTEES James A. Stewart, President Albert C. Clough, Vice-President William R. Kelly, Secretary L. P. MacArthur, Building Chairman Frank B. Davis* Luke R. Storey* James M. Collins, Trustee George F. Kern, Trustee J. Ray Rucker, Trustee Henry- H. Hill, Administrator COUNTY COMMISSIONERS George L. Andersen - - 1949- 1952 Carl J. Magnuson - - - 1949 - 1952 Adolph Winter - - - 1951 - 1952 - - - 1939 -43 Fred O. Ford - - - - - - 39 1941 -48 3 Nobel Sanden* - - - - _ - 1941 -48 Harley F. Warren - - - A. William Hanson - - - - - 1943 -51 9 - - 1948 -5 Henry I. Brown -- - - 1948 -49 8 Magnus Andersen - - - - -*Deceased WELD COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Dr. Robert T. Porter, Chairman Carl D. McKinley J F. Haythorn Mrs. Warren Monfort I3. S. Counter Dr. Ella A. Mead, Acting Director WELD COUNTY PUBLIC HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF HONORARY STAFF Dr. C. B. Dyde Dr. J. W. Lehan Dr. Florence Fezer Dr. Ella A. Mead Dr. W. L. Wilkinson ACTIVE STAFF Dr. J. W. Allely Dr. T. E. Atkinson Dr. D. J. Barber Dr. L). E. Bates Dr. M. J. Bechtel Dr. W. M. Boyd Dr. J. H. Darst Dr. W. H. Droegemueller Dr H. E. Haymond Dr. T. E. Heinz Dr. A. J. Helm :Dr. R. W. Hibbert Dr. W. J. Hinzelman Dr. D. T. Jennings Dr. L. A. Kidder Dr. F. D. Kuykendall Dr. N. A. Madler ACTIVE STAFF (Continued) Dr. W. W. McCaw Dr. E. P. Montgomery Dr.. T. D. Peppers Dr. A. E. Peterson Dr. R. T. Porter Dr. F. J. Roukema Dr. H. S. Rupert Dr. H. N. Russell Dr. C. W. Sabin Dr. W. A. Schoen Dr. R. I. Shwayder Dr. F. D. Staab Dr. R. A. Swanson Dr. J„ A. Weaver Dr. W. W. Webster Dr. S . E. Widney Dr.. Eugene Wiege Dr. J. J. Zuidema ASSOCIATE STAFF Dr. L. L. Lux Dr. N. S. Meyn COURTESY STAFF Dr. C. L. Arford Dr. D. P. B. Brigham Dr. Robert C. Busboom Dr. L. C. Christianson Dr. William R. Conte Dr. D. D. Dugan Dr. Carl Flaxor Dr. C. C. Fuson Dr. S. W. Holley Dr. A. C. Jones Dr. D. C. McCrecry, Jr. Dr. F. R. Pearson Dr. J. H. Scheidt Dr. L. W. Soland Dr. Byron A. Yost HOSPITAL STAFF MR. H. H. HILL, Administrator Miss Ellen M. King, Assistant Administrator Mr. Donald A. Faber, Assistant Administrator Miss Lela O. Underhill, Directress of Nurses Mr. F. H. "Pat" Barnett, Chief Engineer Mr. David Werner, Purchasing Agent Mrs. Byrdine H. Tuthill, Chief Dietitian Mr. Boyd L. Starkey, Pharmacist Miss Veda Drummond, Medical Records Librarian Mrs. Doris E. Deffke, Admitting Officer Mr. Wendell L . Orr, Credit Manager Miss Phyllis E. Borg, Accountant Mr. Jacob Stoll, Jr., Laundry Manager Mrs. Selma Elder, Housekeeper Mrs. Phyllis L. Bradbury, Nursing Supervisor Mrs. Barbara A. Hulen, Nursing Supervisor Mrs. Kathleen Larson, Nursing Supervisor Mrs. Mary E. Mackey, Nursing Supervisor Mrs. Amy J. Van Buskirk, Nursing Supervisor Miss Marjorie L. Keys, Nursing Instructor Miss Dorothy J. Ray, Surgical Supervisor Miss Esther L. Hill, Obstetrical Supervisor Mrs. G. Pearl Baal), Head Nurse Miss Dorothy Johnson, Head Nurse Mrs. Pearl F. Pomeroy, Head Nurse Mrs. Miriam A. Bedinger, Head Nurse Miss Frances E. Simpson, Head Nurse Mrs. Bernardine Edgerton, Wood Bank Technician Mrs. Gertrude C. McCutcheon, Central Supply Supervisor CONSULTANTS Preliminary Surveys : Drs. Walsh and Remy, Chicago. Dr. Benjamin Black, Alemeda Count y Hospital. Other consultants for the structure : Everett W. Jones, Technical Advisor, Modern Hospital Publishing Co. Douglas N. West, Division of Hospital Facili- ties, U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. L. B. Byington, U.S. Public Health Service. Dr. Roy L. Cleere, Director, Colorado State Board of Health. Herbert D. Moe, Executive Director, Division ob Hospital Facilities, Colorado Board of Health.. Gertrude N. Roberts, Technical Consultant, Division of Hospital Facilities, Colorado Board of Health. Paul V. Ryan, Architect Engineer, Division of Hospital Facilities, Colorado Board of Health. ARCHITECTS Fisher 8 .Fisher and Sidney G. Frazier, Denver and Greeley, Colorado Henry B. Baume, Supervising Architect Milo S. K.etchum, Consulting Engineer Samuel R. Lewis and Associates, Mechanical Engineers, Chicago S. I. Rottmayer, Supervising Engineer R. U. Williams,. Landscape Architect F. E. Ricketts, Dietary Consultant Raymond Burnham, Coordinating Engineer PRINCIPAL CONTRACTORS Brown-Schrepferman 8 Co., Denver, Colorado Newstrom-Davis Fi Co., Denver, Colorado Olson Construction Co., Denver, Colorado Johnson 'u Davis Plumbing & Heating Co., Denver, Colorado Montgomery Elevator Co., Moline, Illinois GENERAL INFORMATION County Population - - - --- 67,500 Cost of Hospital - - - - $3 ,250,000.00 Ground Broken - - -- - - October, 1947 Completion - - - - - October, 1952 Grounds Area - - - - - - 20 Acres Square Feet of Floor Space - - - - 158, 565 Cubic area : Hospital - - - - - 1 ,534,721 cu. ft. Health Wing - - - - 270,000 cu. ft. Rooms---All Types - - - - - - - 503 Toilets - - - - - - - - 1 15 Beds - - - - - - - - - - - 220 Bassinets - - - - - - - - - 50 Incubators - - - - - - - - - - 7 Delivery Rooms - - - - - - - - 3 Surgeries - - - - - _ - - - - 7 Passenger Elevators - - - - - - - 4 Freight Elevator - - - - - - - - 1 Dumb Waiters - - - - - - - - 3 Miles of Pipe and Conduit - - - - - 75 Miles of Wire - - - - - - - - - 80 Electric Clocks - - - - - - - - - 72 Telephones - - - - - - - - 220 Parking Areas - - - - - - - - 2 Acres Hello